Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§16101 General civil penalties

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE IV— - INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION › Part PART C— - PIPELINE CARRIERS › Chapter CHAPTER 161— - CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES › § 16101

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Pipeline carriers and their officers, agents, lessees, receivers, or trustees must follow the Board’s rules and orders. If they knowingly break them, they must pay up to $5,000 for each separate violation, and each day the violation continues counts as another violation. Failing to make or keep records required by chapter 157 costs $500 per violation. Breaking section 15722 or failing to file reports or answer questions fully and truthfully costs $100 per violation. Lawsuits to collect these fines must be filed where the carrier’s main operating office is located.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §16101

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this section, a pipeline carrier providing transportation subject to this part, an officer or agent of that carrier, or a receiver, trustee, lessee, or agent of one of them, knowingly violating this part or an order of the Board under this part is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Liability under this subsection is incurred for each distinct violation. A separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues.
(b)(1)A person required under chapter 157 to make, prepare, preserve, or submit to the Board a record concerning transportation subject to this part that does not make, prepare, preserve, or submit that record as required under that chapter, is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of $500 for each violation.
(2)A carrier providing transportation subject to this part, and a lessor, receiver, or trustee of that carrier, violating section 15722, is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
(3)A carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part, a lessor, receiver, or trustee of that carrier, and an officer, agent, or employee of one of them, required to make a report to the Board or answer a question that does not make the report or does not specifically, completely, and truthfully answer the question, is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.
(4)A separate violation occurs for each day violation under this subsection continues.
(c)Trial in a civil action under this section is in the judicial district in which the carrier has its principal operating office.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 105–102This amends 49:16101 to redesignate subsection (d) as (c) because no subsection (c) was enacted.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11901 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

Amendments

1997—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–102 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 16101

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73